2007 January/February Happening
http://www.nativepeoples.com/article/articles/235/1/2007-JanuaryFebruary-Happening/Page1.html
By Daniel Gibson
Published on 01/1/2007
Two
major festivals, one in Colorado and one in Texas, bring out hundreds
of artists and a handful of superb musicians. Plus other events of
Native interest across North America.
Daniel Gibson
Two
major festivals, one in Colorado and one in Texas, bring out hundreds
of artists and a handful of superb musicians. Plus other events of
Native interest across North America.2007 January/February Happening
Markets…Music…& More
The
Texas Indian Markets present a wide array of Native entertainment from
the fascinating Ehecatl Aztec Dancers (above left) to the soothing
music of Brulé (above right).
Some 20 years ago, Randy Wilkerson (Choctaw) was struggling through a career as a banker. “I hated every minute of it,” he recalls, so he returned to his true passion: art. He began entering various regional art shows and soon noticed a void between shows attended by Indian artists and those attended by non-Indians. He decided to create an exhibition and sales venue for Indian artists, as well as artists working in the more general fields of Western art, Southwestern art and wildlife art. Thus, the Texas Indian Market was launched 18 years ago.
The market has since grown into a major happening, especially when combined with a similar show in Colorado over which he and his wife Paula assumed control 10 years ago. The pair are now busy putting the final touches on their 2007 events: the 26th annual Colorado Indian Market, to be held Jan. 19–21 at the Merchandise Mart in Denver, and the 18th annual Texas Indian Market, held March 30–April 1 at the Arlington Convention Center.
Some 400 artists are expected for the Colorado show and 300 for the Texas show, with about 40 percent of those being Native. Their work ranges from traditional pottery, jewelry and leatherwork to contemporary painting, sculpture and other media. All of the artists are juried into the shows and will be selling only handmade, original pieces.
In addition, each show presents a diverse and continuous series of live musical and dance performances. Scheduled to appear at both shows this year are musicians Bill Miller, Micki Free, Arvel Bird & One Nation, the recently reunited Blues Nation (including original lead singer Tom Mauchahty-Ware), the Inca group Ancient Winds and newcomer Shea. Dance groups will include the Ehecatl Aztec Dancers, the American Indian Dance Show (which invites audience participation for some dances), Lowery Begay and Petur Redbird. The major performers will each play once on Friday afternoon/evening, and twice on Saturday and Sunday under the lead of emcee and master roper T. Texas Terry.
The Colorado show will also include an exhibition of 100 Navajo weavings, weaving demonstrators and an expert discussing weaving preservation and restoration.
Both events will also feature the bird show HawkQuest, the chance to meet and talk with actor Steve Reevis (Blackfeet), artist demonstrations, sales of books and music, an Indian food court, and special children’s entertainers and activities.
Elsewhere
Ride on to the fifth season of Native Trails, which kicks off Jan. 9 in Scottsdale, AZ for a four-month series of free dance and music performances, arts and crafts sales, and traditional foods. Activities will be held most Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through April 7 at the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall. Each week will feature dancers, music and arts of a different tribe, including the Salt River Pima-Maricopa, the Tohono O’odham, various Apache tribes, the Diné and the host tribe for the series, the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. All the performances will end with an audience-participation round dance under the watchful eyes of artistic director and hoop dancer Derrick Suwaima Davis. 480/421-1004, 800/805-0471 or culturequestscottsdale.com
Listen in on an R. Carlos Nakai concert on Jan. 12 at the Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts, Wickenburg, AZ (about an hour northwest of Phoenix). The fabulous flautist will perform with William Eaton and the Amadeus Trio, both in solo and ensemble arrangements. Admission is $32 for adults, $5 for children under 19. 928/684-6624 or delwebbcenter.org
Dally at the 15th annual West Valley Invitational Native American Arts Festival, Jan. 13–14, Litchfield Park, AZ. The event will include more than 200 Native artists working in a wide variety of media plus performances led by the popular group Brulé (on Jan. 13 at 12:30 p.m.), Allenroy Paquin, the Yellow Bird Indian Dancers and the Blue Stone Project. A series of lectures and artist demonstrations will be held during the prior week. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 11–16. 623/935-6384 or westvalleyarts.org
Sit in on the Festival of New Plays, Jan. 20, presented by Native Voices at the Autry, Autry National Center, Los Angeles, in conjunction with the Southern California Indian Center. The sixth year of the program matches promising young Native writers with a week-long instruction program in playwriting, capped by an evening presenting their five-minute works read by professional actors. Free; reservations recommended. 323/667-2000, ext. 354
Dance into the Mystic Eagle Pow Wow, Jan. 26–28, Oscar Scherer State Park, Osprey, FL, with grand entries on Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday 1 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m. Featured performers include the Aztec Fire Dancers, host drum The Plainsmen and emcee Dave Whitewolf Trezak. Plus, storytellers, children’s games, traditional lodges, craft auctions and a modest trade fair. 386/935-2982
Catch the 11th annual Indian Artists of America Show, Jan. 27–28, Rawhide at Wild Horse Pass, Gila River Indian Community (just south of Phoenix), with 100 or so artists appearing by invitation only, as well as live music, a fashion show, a live and silent auction to raise funds for Indian youth education projects, and Native foods. Admission is $8 adults, children under 12 free. 866/398-2226 or indianartistsofamerica.com
Hop over to the World Hoop Dance Championships, Feb. 3–4, Heard Museum, Phoenix, with dancers from throughout Canada and the U.S. competing for cash prizes and bragging rights. Also enjoy tasty frybread and other Native foods. Admission is $10 for adults and $3 for children ages 4–12, which includes entry to the museum itself. 602/252-8840 or heard.org
Visit the 36th annual Seminole Tribal Fair, Rodeo & Powwow, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, FL, Feb. 8–11. Activities include a tribal arts and crafts show, a rodeo, alligator wrestling, snake shows, a powwow, exhibition dancing and drumming, and contemporary music by Native musicians. 954/797-5551, x 1303 or Seminoletribe.com
Spend a day at the Tulsa Indian Art Festival, Feb. 9–11, Tulsa Expo, Tulsa, OK, which includes a large Indian art market, art demonstrations, educational exhibits, storytellers, Native foods, exhibition dancing and a student art exhibit. Attend the opening reception ($40 per person) from 7 to 11 p.m. on Feb. 9 with its silent auction, wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres and presentation of the juried art awards. Also on hand will be the event’s 2007 signature artist, Creek/Cherokee shell carver Dan Townsend (see Nov./Dec. 2005 issue). Presented by an all-volunteer staff to raise funds for youth art scholarships. 918/838-3875 or tulsaindianartfest.com
Follow the beat to the fourth annual Hand Drum Contest, Feb. 10, Lac Courte Oreilles Convention Center, near Hayward, WI, sponsored by WOJB-FM Radio. Some 50 drummers working in eight to 10 groups from around the Great Lakes region are expected, says organizer Jeff St. Germaine. Elimination rounds will take place from 1 to 5 p.m., with the finals from 7 p.m. to closing. The event also will be carried on a live Webcast. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for children 5–12. 715/634-2100, 715/634-2100 or wojb.org
Lock and load at the Big Cypress Shootout, Feb. 23–25, at the Billie Swamp Safari on the Seminole Big Cypress Reservation (between Ft. Lauderdale and Naples, FL). Events include daily reenactments of the famous second Seminole War, as well as sale of traditional Seminole arts and crafts, traditional foods, storytelling, alligator wrestling, craft demonstrations and live music. Admission fee. 863/983-6101
Drop a bundle at the 23rd annual Marin Indian Art Show, Feb. 24–25, Marin Civic Center, San Rafael, CA, one of the world’s most important ethnographic art shows. Works range from antique American Indian art and pre-Columbian works to Spanish Colonial art of Latin America and some contemporary Indian art. Admission is $9. 310/822-9145 or krmartindale.com
Don’t miss the Hopi Art Show & Sale, March 2, 6 to 9 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn (4000 N. Central Ave.), Phoenix, a silent auction benefit for the Hopi Education Endowment Fund. Works by some 50 artists, mostly Hopi, will be up for grabs, along with hors d’oeuvres and live entertainment. Free admission. 928/734-2275 or e-mail heef@hopieducationfund.org
Motor over to the fourth annual Native American Fine Arts Show, March 10–11 at the Radisson Resort, Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation (just east of Phoenix), where some 200 juried artists will present a wide array of fine arts. Also, enjoy live entertainment, delicious foods and an auction. Free admission. 800/843-3678 or fortmcdowellcasino.com
The
Texas Indian Markets present a wide array of Native entertainment from
the fascinating Ehecatl Aztec Dancers (above left) to the soothing
music of Brulé (above right).Some 20 years ago, Randy Wilkerson (Choctaw) was struggling through a career as a banker. “I hated every minute of it,” he recalls, so he returned to his true passion: art. He began entering various regional art shows and soon noticed a void between shows attended by Indian artists and those attended by non-Indians. He decided to create an exhibition and sales venue for Indian artists, as well as artists working in the more general fields of Western art, Southwestern art and wildlife art. Thus, the Texas Indian Market was launched 18 years ago.
The market has since grown into a major happening, especially when combined with a similar show in Colorado over which he and his wife Paula assumed control 10 years ago. The pair are now busy putting the final touches on their 2007 events: the 26th annual Colorado Indian Market, to be held Jan. 19–21 at the Merchandise Mart in Denver, and the 18th annual Texas Indian Market, held March 30–April 1 at the Arlington Convention Center.
Some 400 artists are expected for the Colorado show and 300 for the Texas show, with about 40 percent of those being Native. Their work ranges from traditional pottery, jewelry and leatherwork to contemporary painting, sculpture and other media. All of the artists are juried into the shows and will be selling only handmade, original pieces.
In addition, each show presents a diverse and continuous series of live musical and dance performances. Scheduled to appear at both shows this year are musicians Bill Miller, Micki Free, Arvel Bird & One Nation, the recently reunited Blues Nation (including original lead singer Tom Mauchahty-Ware), the Inca group Ancient Winds and newcomer Shea. Dance groups will include the Ehecatl Aztec Dancers, the American Indian Dance Show (which invites audience participation for some dances), Lowery Begay and Petur Redbird. The major performers will each play once on Friday afternoon/evening, and twice on Saturday and Sunday under the lead of emcee and master roper T. Texas Terry.
The Colorado show will also include an exhibition of 100 Navajo weavings, weaving demonstrators and an expert discussing weaving preservation and restoration.
Both events will also feature the bird show HawkQuest, the chance to meet and talk with actor Steve Reevis (Blackfeet), artist demonstrations, sales of books and music, an Indian food court, and special children’s entertainers and activities.
Elsewhere
Ride on to the fifth season of Native Trails, which kicks off Jan. 9 in Scottsdale, AZ for a four-month series of free dance and music performances, arts and crafts sales, and traditional foods. Activities will be held most Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through April 7 at the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall. Each week will feature dancers, music and arts of a different tribe, including the Salt River Pima-Maricopa, the Tohono O’odham, various Apache tribes, the Diné and the host tribe for the series, the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. All the performances will end with an audience-participation round dance under the watchful eyes of artistic director and hoop dancer Derrick Suwaima Davis. 480/421-1004, 800/805-0471 or culturequestscottsdale.com
Listen in on an R. Carlos Nakai concert on Jan. 12 at the Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts, Wickenburg, AZ (about an hour northwest of Phoenix). The fabulous flautist will perform with William Eaton and the Amadeus Trio, both in solo and ensemble arrangements. Admission is $32 for adults, $5 for children under 19. 928/684-6624 or delwebbcenter.org
Dally at the 15th annual West Valley Invitational Native American Arts Festival, Jan. 13–14, Litchfield Park, AZ. The event will include more than 200 Native artists working in a wide variety of media plus performances led by the popular group Brulé (on Jan. 13 at 12:30 p.m.), Allenroy Paquin, the Yellow Bird Indian Dancers and the Blue Stone Project. A series of lectures and artist demonstrations will be held during the prior week. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 11–16. 623/935-6384 or westvalleyarts.org
Sit in on the Festival of New Plays, Jan. 20, presented by Native Voices at the Autry, Autry National Center, Los Angeles, in conjunction with the Southern California Indian Center. The sixth year of the program matches promising young Native writers with a week-long instruction program in playwriting, capped by an evening presenting their five-minute works read by professional actors. Free; reservations recommended. 323/667-2000, ext. 354
Dance into the Mystic Eagle Pow Wow, Jan. 26–28, Oscar Scherer State Park, Osprey, FL, with grand entries on Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday 1 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m. Featured performers include the Aztec Fire Dancers, host drum The Plainsmen and emcee Dave Whitewolf Trezak. Plus, storytellers, children’s games, traditional lodges, craft auctions and a modest trade fair. 386/935-2982
Catch the 11th annual Indian Artists of America Show, Jan. 27–28, Rawhide at Wild Horse Pass, Gila River Indian Community (just south of Phoenix), with 100 or so artists appearing by invitation only, as well as live music, a fashion show, a live and silent auction to raise funds for Indian youth education projects, and Native foods. Admission is $8 adults, children under 12 free. 866/398-2226 or indianartistsofamerica.com
Hop over to the World Hoop Dance Championships, Feb. 3–4, Heard Museum, Phoenix, with dancers from throughout Canada and the U.S. competing for cash prizes and bragging rights. Also enjoy tasty frybread and other Native foods. Admission is $10 for adults and $3 for children ages 4–12, which includes entry to the museum itself. 602/252-8840 or heard.org
Visit the 36th annual Seminole Tribal Fair, Rodeo & Powwow, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, FL, Feb. 8–11. Activities include a tribal arts and crafts show, a rodeo, alligator wrestling, snake shows, a powwow, exhibition dancing and drumming, and contemporary music by Native musicians. 954/797-5551, x 1303 or Seminoletribe.com
Spend a day at the Tulsa Indian Art Festival, Feb. 9–11, Tulsa Expo, Tulsa, OK, which includes a large Indian art market, art demonstrations, educational exhibits, storytellers, Native foods, exhibition dancing and a student art exhibit. Attend the opening reception ($40 per person) from 7 to 11 p.m. on Feb. 9 with its silent auction, wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres and presentation of the juried art awards. Also on hand will be the event’s 2007 signature artist, Creek/Cherokee shell carver Dan Townsend (see Nov./Dec. 2005 issue). Presented by an all-volunteer staff to raise funds for youth art scholarships. 918/838-3875 or tulsaindianartfest.com
Follow the beat to the fourth annual Hand Drum Contest, Feb. 10, Lac Courte Oreilles Convention Center, near Hayward, WI, sponsored by WOJB-FM Radio. Some 50 drummers working in eight to 10 groups from around the Great Lakes region are expected, says organizer Jeff St. Germaine. Elimination rounds will take place from 1 to 5 p.m., with the finals from 7 p.m. to closing. The event also will be carried on a live Webcast. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for children 5–12. 715/634-2100, 715/634-2100 or wojb.org
Lock and load at the Big Cypress Shootout, Feb. 23–25, at the Billie Swamp Safari on the Seminole Big Cypress Reservation (between Ft. Lauderdale and Naples, FL). Events include daily reenactments of the famous second Seminole War, as well as sale of traditional Seminole arts and crafts, traditional foods, storytelling, alligator wrestling, craft demonstrations and live music. Admission fee. 863/983-6101
Drop a bundle at the 23rd annual Marin Indian Art Show, Feb. 24–25, Marin Civic Center, San Rafael, CA, one of the world’s most important ethnographic art shows. Works range from antique American Indian art and pre-Columbian works to Spanish Colonial art of Latin America and some contemporary Indian art. Admission is $9. 310/822-9145 or krmartindale.com
Don’t miss the Hopi Art Show & Sale, March 2, 6 to 9 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn (4000 N. Central Ave.), Phoenix, a silent auction benefit for the Hopi Education Endowment Fund. Works by some 50 artists, mostly Hopi, will be up for grabs, along with hors d’oeuvres and live entertainment. Free admission. 928/734-2275 or e-mail heef@hopieducationfund.org
Motor over to the fourth annual Native American Fine Arts Show, March 10–11 at the Radisson Resort, Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation (just east of Phoenix), where some 200 juried artists will present a wide array of fine arts. Also, enjoy live entertainment, delicious foods and an auction. Free admission. 800/843-3678 or fortmcdowellcasino.com